Cardiol Res

Cardiology Research, ISSN 1923-2829 print, 1923-2837 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Cardiol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.cardiologyres.org

Original Article

Volume 3, Number 4, August 2012, pages 180-186

Endothelial Function and Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness in Asymptomatic Subjects With and Without Cardiovascular Risk Factors

**Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics of Study Group (n = 104)
Variable	Without Risk factors (n = 50 )	With risk factors (n = 54)	P value
BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, LDL cholesterol; HDL-C, HDL cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; HbAIc, glycosylated hemoglobin; FBS, fasting blood sugar; PPBS, post-prandial blood sugar. (All variables expressed as Mean ± SD).
Age (years)	39.98 ± 11.18	42.55 ± 9.90	0.216
Male: Female ratio	1.38:1	1.84:1	-
BMI (kg/m²)	21.98 ± 1.29	24.45 ± 3.58	< 0.001
SBP (mm Hg)	109.32 ± 9.85	139.18 ± 15.55	< 0.001
DBP (mm Hg)	72.08 ± 5.75	87.03 ± 9.44	< 0.001
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.89 ± 0.11	1.03 ± 1.10	0.347
TC (mg/dL)	168.06 ± 10.9	188.25 ± 25.95	< 0.001
LDL-C (mg/dl)	97.58 ± 11.0	117.47 ± 24.73	< 0.001
HDL-C (mg/dl)	43.82 ± 2.86	41.05 ± 3.84	< 0.001
TG (mg/dL)	133.24 ± 8.26	159.31 ± 78.45	< 0.001
Hb AIc (%)	5.69 ± 0.30	6.80 ± 1.04	< 0.001
FBS (mg/dL)	95.82 ± 7.20	112.25 ± 23.37	< 0.001
PPBS (mg/dL)	123.84 ± 8.21	177.35 ± 67.70	< 0.001

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Study Group (n = 104)

Variable

Without Risk factors (n = 50 )

With risk factors (n = 54)

P value

BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, LDL cholesterol; HDL-C, HDL cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; HbAIc, glycosylated hemoglobin; FBS, fasting blood sugar; PPBS, post-prandial blood sugar. (All variables expressed as Mean ± SD).

Age (years)

39.98 ± 11.18

42.55 ± 9.90

0.216

Male: Female ratio

1.38:1

1.84:1

BMI (kg/m²)

21.98 ± 1.29

24.45 ± 3.58

< 0.001

SBP (mm Hg)

109.32 ± 9.85

139.18 ± 15.55

< 0.001

DBP (mm Hg)

72.08 ± 5.75

87.03 ± 9.44

< 0.001

Creatinine (mg/dL)

0.89 ± 0.11

1.03 ± 1.10

0.347

TC (mg/dL)

168.06 ± 10.9

188.25 ± 25.95

< 0.001

LDL-C (mg/dl)

97.58 ± 11.0

117.47 ± 24.73

< 0.001

HDL-C (mg/dl)

43.82 ± 2.86

41.05 ± 3.84

< 0.001

TG (mg/dL)

133.24 ± 8.26

159.31 ± 78.45

< 0.001

Hb AIc (%)

5.69 ± 0.30

6.80 ± 1.04

< 0.001

FBS (mg/dL)

95.82 ± 7.20

112.25 ± 23.37

< 0.001

PPBS (mg/dL)

123.84 ± 8.21

177.35 ± 67.70

< 0.001

**Table 2.** Risk Factors (n = 54)
Risk factor	Number ( percentage )
Diabetes mellitus	23 (43%)
Hypertension	29 (54%)
Dyslipidemia	23 (43%)
Smoking	4 (7%)
Obesity	23 (43%)
Metabolic syndrome	14 (26%)
Physical inactivity	6 (11%)
Family h/o premature CAD	9 (17%)

Table 2. Risk Factors (n = 54)

Risk factor

Number ( percentage )

Diabetes mellitus

23 (43%)

Hypertension

29 (54%)

Dyslipidemia

23 (43%)

Smoking

4 (7%)

Obesity

23 (43%)

Metabolic syndrome

14 (26%)

Physical inactivity

6 (11%)

Family h/o premature CAD

9 (17%)

**Table 3.** FMD Response and Carotid IMT in Both Groups
Variable	Without Risk factors	With risk factors	P value
FMD Response (percentage change)	13.18 ± 2.38	6.53 ± 4.19	< 0.001
Carotid IMT (mm)	0.67 ± 0.05	0.78 ± 0.12	< 0.001

Table 3. FMD Response and Carotid IMT in Both Groups

Variable

Without Risk factors

With risk factors

P value

FMD Response (percentage change)

13.18 ± 2.38

6.53 ± 4.19

< 0.001

Carotid IMT (mm)

0.67 ± 0.05

0.78 ± 0.12

< 0.001

**Table 4.** FMD Response of the Study Population
Group	FMD of brachial artery	Total	χ²	P-Value
*denotes significant difference. It is observed that there is a significant association between the FMD response and the risk factors (P < 0.001). Higher numbers of samples without risk factors have a normal FMD response whereas more number of samples with risk factors have an abnormal FMD response.
Without Risk Factors	46	4	50	41.948	< 0.001^*
With Risk Factors	16	38	54
Total	62	42	104

Table 4. FMD Response of the Study Population

Group

FMD of brachial artery

Total

χ²

P-Value

Normal Response

Abnormal Response

*denotes significant difference. It is observed that there is a significant association between the FMD response and the risk factors (P < 0.001). Higher numbers of samples without risk factors have a normal FMD response whereas more number of samples with risk factors have an abnormal FMD response.

Without Risk Factors

41.948

< 0.001^*

With Risk Factors

Total

104

**Table 5.** Carotid IMT of the Study Population
	Carotid IMT	Total	χ²	P-Value
*denotes significant difference. It is observed that there is a significant association between the IMT thickness and the risk factors (P < 0.001). Even though higher number of samples with and without risk factors have a normal IMT, more number of samples with risk factors have an increased IMT.
Without Risk Factors	48	2	50	7.400	0.007*
With Risk Factors	42	12	54
Total	90	14	104

Table 5. Carotid IMT of the Study Population

Carotid IMT

Total

χ²

P-Value

Normal

Increased

*denotes significant difference. It is observed that there is a significant association between the IMT thickness and the risk factors (P < 0.001). Even though higher number of samples with and without risk factors have a normal IMT, more number of samples with risk factors have an increased IMT.

Without Risk Factors

7.400

0.007*

With Risk Factors

Total

104

**Table 6.** Correlation of IMT and FMD With Variables
Factor	Carotid IMT	FMD
TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, LDL cholesterol; HDL-C, HDL cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; BMI, body mass index; HbAIc, glycosylated hemoglobin. *denotes significant correlation.
Age	0.651	< 0.001*	-0.320	0.001*
TC	0.525	< 0.001*	-0.557	< 0.001*
LDL-C	0.503	< 0.001*	-0.566	< 0.001*
HDL-C	-0.267	0.006*	0.341	< 0.001*
TG	0.289	0.003*	-0.278	0.004*
SBP	0.458	< 0.001*	-0.578	< 0.001*
DBP	0.552	< 0.001*	-0.604	< 0.001*
BMI	0.415	< 0.001*	-0.483	< 0.001*
HbA1C	0.614	< 0.001*	-0.651	< 0.001*

Table 6. Correlation of IMT and FMD With Variables

Factor

Carotid IMT

FMD

TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, LDL cholesterol; HDL-C, HDL cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; BMI, body mass index; HbAIc, glycosylated hemoglobin. *denotes significant correlation.

Age

0.651

< 0.001*

-0.320

0.001*

0.525

< 0.001*

-0.557

< 0.001*

LDL-C

0.503

< 0.001*

-0.566

< 0.001*

HDL-C

-0.267

0.006*

0.341

< 0.001*

0.289

0.003*

-0.278

0.004*

SBP

0.458

< 0.001*

-0.578

< 0.001*

DBP

0.552

< 0.001*

-0.604

< 0.001*

BMI

0.415

< 0.001*

-0.483

< 0.001*

HbA1C

0.614

< 0.001*

-0.651

< 0.001*

**Table 7.** Abnormal FMD Response and Increased Carotid IMT in Various Subsets
	Abnormal FMD response	Increased Carotid IMT
Diabetes mellitus	20	87%	9	39%
Hypertension	20	69%	9	31%
Dyslipidemia	17	74%	10	44%
Smoking	3	75%	1	25%
Obesity	15	65%	9	39%
Metabolic syndrome	12	86%	7	50%
Physical inactivity	2	33%	1	17%
Family h/o premature CAD	7	78%	2	22%
Normal CAG	10	71%	5	36%

Table 7. Abnormal FMD Response and Increased Carotid IMT in Various Subsets

Abnormal FMD response

Increased Carotid IMT

Diabetes mellitus

87%

39%

Hypertension

69%

31%

Dyslipidemia

74%

44%

Smoking

75%

25%

Obesity

65%

39%

Metabolic syndrome

86%

50%

Physical inactivity

33%

17%

Family h/o premature CAD

78%

22%

Normal CAG

71%

36%